Makes Me Wonder
Oct. 2nd, 2007 06:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
oh_ameliaTitle: Taking Notice
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
hsbfc
Chapter: 20/30
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: language, sex
Summary: Totally AU. Justin asks Brian for his help after Ethan won’t leave him alone. How far will Brian go to help the blond? And how far will Ethan go to make sure Justin is his?
Disclaimer: QUEER AS FOLK is property of COWLIP and SHOWTIME. I own nothing.
Author’s Notes: The title was inspired by Maroon 5’s song MAKES ME WONDER, but has nothing else to do with the song. And I want to say thanks to my wonderful betaelyxer. You rock! Without your encouragement I would not be writing. THANKS and I love ya!
PREVIOUS CHAPTERS: Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 | Chapter 18 | Chapter 19
Justin sat on the barstool at the kitchen counter and watched Brian through the partitions. Each time Brian looked at him, he quickly turned away. His coffee had gone cold so he decided to pour a fresh cup. A hand on his shoulder almost caused him to drop the pot.
“Shit,” “ Justin gasped. “You startled me.”
“Okay,” Brian said slowly, arching his eyebrow. “Coffee?”
“Oh here,” Justin said, handing Brian the pot. He poured his cold coffee in the sink and rinsed out the cup.
“Do you have class this morning? Do you need a ride to school?” Brian poured
“Oh, no,” Justin answered distractedly. “I don’t have any classes until this afternoon.”
“Need a ride back?” Brian asked as he sipped his coffee.
“I’m not sure,” Justin said. “I have to finish up a project for my Still Life class, and I don’t know how long it’s gonna take me. I’ll call you though, if I do.”
“Okay.” Brian took another drink of his coffee. “This is really good.”
“Thanks.” Justin smiled. “And you didn’t even add any sugar.”
“How about that,” Brian said. “What’s your secret?”
“Ahh, I’d tell you, but then I’d have to kill you.”
“You don’t know do you?” Brian smirked.
“Not one clue,” Justin laughed. “I just kinda dumped it in there.”
“See you tonight,” Brian said as he set his empty cup in the sink.
“Yeah, later,” Justin said, sitting back down at the counter.
He took a notebook and pen out of his messenger bag, but was unable to concentrate on anything other than what Daphne had said to him. It had only been a little over a week, and already it was driving him crazy. Now everything he or Brian did, he overanalyzed. He knew he was acting strange lately, he just hoped that it wasn’t too noticeable.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Have you noticed anything…off about Justin lately?” Brian asked after Kiki took their order.
“He’s always seemed weird to me,” Michael said.
“Michael!” Emmett exclaimed.
“I have noticed that he’s seemed a bit distracted,” Ted commented. “But that could just be because of finals.”
“I agree with, Teddy,” Emmett said, taking a sip from his orange juice. “Although, I’ve noticed he’s seemed a bit jumpy too.”
“Maybe he’s hiding something,” Michael suggested. “He has finally realized that all his lies are catching up with him and it’s getting to him.”
“What the fuck are you talking about, Michael?” Brian asked, frowning.
“If Justin really wanted to get rid of Ethan then he would. I still can’t understand why he’s involving you with his problems.”
“Because I offered,” Brian said.
“How do you know he’s been acting weird?” Michael asked Ted.
“Well,” Ted said, pausing while Kiki set their plates on the table, and waiting for the okay from Brian to continue. “Justin is going to start interning after the holidays, so he’s been coming by to familiarize himself with everyone.”
Michael snorted and turned to Brian. “You do that with all your interns?”
“Justin’s not just anyone, Michael,” Emmett said as he stabbed his eggs with his fork. “I think it’s great.”
“Are you paying him?” Michael asked.
“Not while he’s interning, but I will be for the two weeks before he starts,” Brian said calmly.
“So he’s staying at the loft, eating your food, and you’re giving him money?!” Michael exclaimed.
“Michael…” Brian pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.
“No, no, I don’t want to hear anymore,” Michael said as he shoved as much food in his mouth as he could. He washed it down with his coffee and put a ten on the table. “I’m going to work. See you guys later.” He grabbed his coat and left with a huff.
“He’ll come around,” Emmett said, sipping his coffee.
“I would hope so,” Ted commented. “But isn’t he acting out a little more than usual? Brian, you say Justin’s acting strange lately, but have you noticed anything about Michael?”
“I have,” Brian admitted. “But I don’t dare say anything to him right now. With Ethan and the shit Lindz is trying to pull, I don’t think I can take Michael’s hysterics on top of it. Not to mention that once Michael gets going, you know Deb won’t be far behind.”
Emmett and Ted both nodded in agreement.
“Anything we can help with?” Emmett offered.
“No.” Brian shook his head. “I don’t think that there’s anything anyone can do right now.”
Kiki came by with the checks, and all three men paid and left a generous tip.
“So, any plans for Babylon tonight?” Emmett asked once they were outside. He wrapped his scarf securely around his neck and zipped up his coat. “It’d be a good way to relieve some stress.”
“Maybe.” Brian nodded as he lit a cigarette. He inhaled deeply and let the nicotine do its work. “If we have time. The holidays are always killers around the office.”
“Well, if you guys do decide to go call me,” Emmett said. “I have this fabulous new top that I just bought and I am dying to show it off.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Michael wrapped his scarf around his neck and pulled on his new gloves. The walk to the comic shop wasn’t far from the diner, and he knew that the fresh air would help clear his mind. If he had to spend one more moment listening to his friends go on and on about how great Justin is, then he would go out of his mind. Still after all this time he couldn’t tell what Brian saw in the kid. If anything, Justin was more of a nuisance than anything else.
He pulled open the gate in front of his store and unlocked the door, turning the sign to open. He turned on the lights and hung his coat in the back closet. When he realized that the can of coffee was empty, he cursed himself for being in such a rush to get away from the ‘Justin talk’. And then he decided that it wasn’t his fault, but Justin’s. Because if it weren’t for that interfering little blond twink, he’d still be at the diner drinking hot coffee and having an enjoyable breakfast with his friends.
The only thing that alleviated his anger was the fact that he just got in a shipment of comics, and the new display case was in the back waiting to be assembled. There was plenty for him to do today that would take his mind off of Justin.
Once school let out for the holidays he knew that he was going to be slammed with business. Not a day went by over the summer where he wasn’t busy. He would never admit to anyone at how surprised he was that business was going so well, and that he hadn’t failed in his first business venture. Aside from the pain in his side known as Justin, things were going great for him.
He had to stop every now and then when a customer came in, or if he needed to take a break from putting together the shelf. There wasn’t anything he hated more than putting together new display cases. Maybe he could call Emmett and ask for help. Hell, if the man can change a flat tire in the middle of the night, he can do anything.
The bell above the door rang and Michael shoved the loose board off of his legs. “I’ll be right there,” he called to the customer in the front.
“No need to hurry. I’ll just look around,” a male voice told him.
Michael stacked the boards in a pile and scooped up all the nuts and screws into their separate bags. He’d just have to finish this after he closed. Too many customers were coming in, and it was more trouble than it was worth to come back and forth all day.
“Can I help you?” Michael asked, wiping his sweaty hands on his jeans.
“I sure hope so,” the man said as he picked up two comics from the shelf and held them in his hand. “I’m looking for a wide variety of comics that have gay undertones.”
“Well, you’ve come to the right place,” Michael said, slightly gasping when the man turned to face him. “I, uh, have just about every gay comic a boy could dream of in here.”
“That’s great. I’m a professor of Gay Studies over at Carnegie Mellon, and I’m just about to delve into gay themes throughout history.”
“Sounds f-fascinating,” Michael exhaled.
“You know, I’m getting the strangest feeling that I’ve seen you somewhere before,” the professor said as he straightened his glasses. “Have we met and I’m just not remembering it?”
“I don’t think so,” Michael said slowly as he made his way to the shelves where he kept most of his ‘mature’ comics. “I’m pretty sure that if we would’ve met before, then I would’ve remember.”
“I’m flattered,” the man said, smiling. He stood next to Michael and glanced at him critically. He adjusted his frames once more and then it hit him. “Wait a minute. I know where I know you from,” he exclaimed. He couldn’t believe it had taken him this long to figure it out.
Chapter 19 | Chapter 21
Sorry for the short chapter. The next one should be up in a couple days. I hope
Author:
hsbfcChapter: 20/30
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: language, sex
Summary: Totally AU. Justin asks Brian for his help after Ethan won’t leave him alone. How far will Brian go to help the blond? And how far will Ethan go to make sure Justin is his?
Disclaimer: QUEER AS FOLK is property of COWLIP and SHOWTIME. I own nothing.
Author’s Notes: The title was inspired by Maroon 5’s song MAKES ME WONDER, but has nothing else to do with the song. And I want to say thanks to my wonderful beta
elyxer. You rock! Without your encouragement I would not be writing. THANKS and I love ya! PREVIOUS CHAPTERS: Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 | Chapter 18 | Chapter 19
Justin sat on the barstool at the kitchen counter and watched Brian through the partitions. Each time Brian looked at him, he quickly turned away. His coffee had gone cold so he decided to pour a fresh cup. A hand on his shoulder almost caused him to drop the pot.
“Shit,” “ Justin gasped. “You startled me.”
“Okay,” Brian said slowly, arching his eyebrow. “Coffee?”
“Oh here,” Justin said, handing Brian the pot. He poured his cold coffee in the sink and rinsed out the cup.
“Do you have class this morning? Do you need a ride to school?” Brian poured
“Oh, no,” Justin answered distractedly. “I don’t have any classes until this afternoon.”
“Need a ride back?” Brian asked as he sipped his coffee.
“I’m not sure,” Justin said. “I have to finish up a project for my Still Life class, and I don’t know how long it’s gonna take me. I’ll call you though, if I do.”
“Okay.” Brian took another drink of his coffee. “This is really good.”
“Thanks.” Justin smiled. “And you didn’t even add any sugar.”
“How about that,” Brian said. “What’s your secret?”
“Ahh, I’d tell you, but then I’d have to kill you.”
“You don’t know do you?” Brian smirked.
“Not one clue,” Justin laughed. “I just kinda dumped it in there.”
“See you tonight,” Brian said as he set his empty cup in the sink.
“Yeah, later,” Justin said, sitting back down at the counter.
He took a notebook and pen out of his messenger bag, but was unable to concentrate on anything other than what Daphne had said to him. It had only been a little over a week, and already it was driving him crazy. Now everything he or Brian did, he overanalyzed. He knew he was acting strange lately, he just hoped that it wasn’t too noticeable.
“Have you noticed anything…off about Justin lately?” Brian asked after Kiki took their order.
“He’s always seemed weird to me,” Michael said.
“Michael!” Emmett exclaimed.
“I have noticed that he’s seemed a bit distracted,” Ted commented. “But that could just be because of finals.”
“I agree with, Teddy,” Emmett said, taking a sip from his orange juice. “Although, I’ve noticed he’s seemed a bit jumpy too.”
“Maybe he’s hiding something,” Michael suggested. “He has finally realized that all his lies are catching up with him and it’s getting to him.”
“What the fuck are you talking about, Michael?” Brian asked, frowning.
“If Justin really wanted to get rid of Ethan then he would. I still can’t understand why he’s involving you with his problems.”
“Because I offered,” Brian said.
“How do you know he’s been acting weird?” Michael asked Ted.
“Well,” Ted said, pausing while Kiki set their plates on the table, and waiting for the okay from Brian to continue. “Justin is going to start interning after the holidays, so he’s been coming by to familiarize himself with everyone.”
Michael snorted and turned to Brian. “You do that with all your interns?”
“Justin’s not just anyone, Michael,” Emmett said as he stabbed his eggs with his fork. “I think it’s great.”
“Are you paying him?” Michael asked.
“Not while he’s interning, but I will be for the two weeks before he starts,” Brian said calmly.
“So he’s staying at the loft, eating your food, and you’re giving him money?!” Michael exclaimed.
“Michael…” Brian pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.
“No, no, I don’t want to hear anymore,” Michael said as he shoved as much food in his mouth as he could. He washed it down with his coffee and put a ten on the table. “I’m going to work. See you guys later.” He grabbed his coat and left with a huff.
“He’ll come around,” Emmett said, sipping his coffee.
“I would hope so,” Ted commented. “But isn’t he acting out a little more than usual? Brian, you say Justin’s acting strange lately, but have you noticed anything about Michael?”
“I have,” Brian admitted. “But I don’t dare say anything to him right now. With Ethan and the shit Lindz is trying to pull, I don’t think I can take Michael’s hysterics on top of it. Not to mention that once Michael gets going, you know Deb won’t be far behind.”
Emmett and Ted both nodded in agreement.
“Anything we can help with?” Emmett offered.
“No.” Brian shook his head. “I don’t think that there’s anything anyone can do right now.”
Kiki came by with the checks, and all three men paid and left a generous tip.
“So, any plans for Babylon tonight?” Emmett asked once they were outside. He wrapped his scarf securely around his neck and zipped up his coat. “It’d be a good way to relieve some stress.”
“Maybe.” Brian nodded as he lit a cigarette. He inhaled deeply and let the nicotine do its work. “If we have time. The holidays are always killers around the office.”
“Well, if you guys do decide to go call me,” Emmett said. “I have this fabulous new top that I just bought and I am dying to show it off.”
Michael wrapped his scarf around his neck and pulled on his new gloves. The walk to the comic shop wasn’t far from the diner, and he knew that the fresh air would help clear his mind. If he had to spend one more moment listening to his friends go on and on about how great Justin is, then he would go out of his mind. Still after all this time he couldn’t tell what Brian saw in the kid. If anything, Justin was more of a nuisance than anything else.
He pulled open the gate in front of his store and unlocked the door, turning the sign to open. He turned on the lights and hung his coat in the back closet. When he realized that the can of coffee was empty, he cursed himself for being in such a rush to get away from the ‘Justin talk’. And then he decided that it wasn’t his fault, but Justin’s. Because if it weren’t for that interfering little blond twink, he’d still be at the diner drinking hot coffee and having an enjoyable breakfast with his friends.
The only thing that alleviated his anger was the fact that he just got in a shipment of comics, and the new display case was in the back waiting to be assembled. There was plenty for him to do today that would take his mind off of Justin.
Once school let out for the holidays he knew that he was going to be slammed with business. Not a day went by over the summer where he wasn’t busy. He would never admit to anyone at how surprised he was that business was going so well, and that he hadn’t failed in his first business venture. Aside from the pain in his side known as Justin, things were going great for him.
He had to stop every now and then when a customer came in, or if he needed to take a break from putting together the shelf. There wasn’t anything he hated more than putting together new display cases. Maybe he could call Emmett and ask for help. Hell, if the man can change a flat tire in the middle of the night, he can do anything.
The bell above the door rang and Michael shoved the loose board off of his legs. “I’ll be right there,” he called to the customer in the front.
“No need to hurry. I’ll just look around,” a male voice told him.
Michael stacked the boards in a pile and scooped up all the nuts and screws into their separate bags. He’d just have to finish this after he closed. Too many customers were coming in, and it was more trouble than it was worth to come back and forth all day.
“Can I help you?” Michael asked, wiping his sweaty hands on his jeans.
“I sure hope so,” the man said as he picked up two comics from the shelf and held them in his hand. “I’m looking for a wide variety of comics that have gay undertones.”
“Well, you’ve come to the right place,” Michael said, slightly gasping when the man turned to face him. “I, uh, have just about every gay comic a boy could dream of in here.”
“That’s great. I’m a professor of Gay Studies over at Carnegie Mellon, and I’m just about to delve into gay themes throughout history.”
“Sounds f-fascinating,” Michael exhaled.
“You know, I’m getting the strangest feeling that I’ve seen you somewhere before,” the professor said as he straightened his glasses. “Have we met and I’m just not remembering it?”
“I don’t think so,” Michael said slowly as he made his way to the shelves where he kept most of his ‘mature’ comics. “I’m pretty sure that if we would’ve met before, then I would’ve remember.”
“I’m flattered,” the man said, smiling. He stood next to Michael and glanced at him critically. He adjusted his frames once more and then it hit him. “Wait a minute. I know where I know you from,” he exclaimed. He couldn’t believe it had taken him this long to figure it out.
Sorry for the short chapter. The next one should be up in a couple days. I hope
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
Re: Yay
Date: 2007-10-05 04:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-03 12:19 am (UTC)Hearing this story could be interesting too. I enjoyed reading this this morning - it started off my day nicely.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-05 04:20 am (UTC)I'll be posting a new chapter tomorrow night.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-03 02:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-05 04:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-03 02:15 am (UTC)Poor Justin. He's so freaked out and confused. I'm glad Brian has noticed, means he's paying attention lol.
Teddy and Emmett are the best. That is all. *grin*
I will not speak of "Michael!That shit!" because really...what can I say lol?
Nice chapter!
no subject
Date: 2007-10-05 04:23 am (UTC)Ben will be important...I think.
I love Ted and Emmett.
As for Michael!That shit!...well his time is coming.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-03 03:11 am (UTC)Yay! BEN!! Wonder if there's a chance of him knocking some sense into Michael? Not holding out too much hope though. :P
no subject
Date: 2007-10-05 04:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-03 03:43 am (UTC)Poor Justin overanalzying and Brian worrying. It's all so adorable. Loved the coffee bit. Maybe Justin dipped his pinky in it, lol, that's how sweet he is :)
Em and Ted are, as always, awesome!
Can't wait!
no subject
Date: 2007-10-05 04:25 am (UTC)Em and Ted are, as always, awesome!
Totally!
I should be posting a new chapter soon.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-03 12:56 pm (UTC)And I hope Ben will be able to talk some sense into Michael.
Please, update soon so it won't take long for me to figure it out either. I'm so curious. :)
Susanne
ohh
Date: 2007-10-03 11:38 pm (UTC)Re: ohh
Date: 2007-10-05 04:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-05 04:26 am (UTC)I'll be posting a new chapter Friday night.
no subject
Date: 2008-02-28 09:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-04-20 08:05 am (UTC)uh-oh, Ben is going to put two and two together
Do we have our little thief or what?
no subject
Date: 2009-10-05 02:15 am (UTC)